Gertrud Bjørnvig, Driven by Agile Patterns and Anthropological studies of Software Development

Gertrud focuses on Agile and Lean software development. She does courses and consultancy in user stories, use cases, and product backlogs. Together with her partner Jim Coplien, she also does agile assessments and agile team analyses based on organizational patterns. Her favorite development framework is Scrum. Gertrud has a hobby as a “Software Development Anthropologist” where she analyses trends and practices in software development through the glasses of an anthropologist.

Presentation: "Organizational Patterns and Scrum: Fine-tuning your Agile Implementation"

Track: The Heart of Agile

Time: Wednesday 11:30 - 12:30

Location: Rytmisk Sal

Abstract: Scrum is easy to describe but hard to do: you've heard that a million times. And you've read the famous Nokia Test and believe it gives you an easy path to making your Scrum work. However, most Scrum failures are subtle - and after you're dead, you won't even know what got you. Scrum comprises over 50 organizational patterns, each one of which is crucial to a successful software Scrum implementation. Patterns can help you find and fix these problems - come to this hands-on session to learn how.

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of the Scrum framework

Level: Intermediate

Expectations: What Organizational Patterns are, how to use them to diagnose a Scrum implementation, and how to use them to address subtle problems in Scrum implementations

Workshop: "Scrum tuning using Organizational Patterns"

Track: Tutorial

Time: Thursday 09:00 - 16:00

Location: Trifork

Abstract:

This tutorial will teach you how to use organizational patterns to improve your Scrum implementation. Each organizational patterns is a small, local approach to strengthening your Scrum Scrum. Patterns capture solutions to similar problems seen in other organizations, and because they are incremental and empirical, they can help you with your Agile process improvement.

The patterns we present in this class have all been through the extensive reviewing process of the Pattern Community (PLOP) to ensure that the solutions are broadly reproducible. Furthermore, each pattern has been scrutinized by some of the leading Scrum people in the world. Their conclusions?

We have divided Organizational Patterns into 3 categories:

One set of Organizational Patterns that map directly to the Scrum framwork, e.g.: Firewall – Someone has to keep the monkeys off the developers’ backs. Who would that be in Scrum? Well, the Scrum Master protects the process and is there by a firewall. Less obvious is that the Product Owner is also a Firewall, in making sure only one set of requirements come into a sprint. What about a manager, can a manager be a Firewall? (also see the pattern Patron Role)

One set of Organizational Patterns that map directly to a Scrum software implementation. So even if it is not part of the Scrum framework, it is still considered good practice, e.g.: Get on with it – Even if you don’t have a complete, comfortable plan to get started, take what you know and take it forward to build an initial product.

One set of Organizational patterns that can inspire thinking and dialog that amplify Scrum process improvement, e.g.: Face-to-Face Before Working Remotely that relates the success that comes from having team members spending some face time at their remote partners’ location before starting to work across the miles.

At the end of the class you will know how to use patterns to find and improve the weak spots in your Scrum implementation.

Agenda:
Welcome and Introduction
   1. Short History of Patterns and Organizational Patterns
   2. Scrum in 3 minutes
   3. Pattern Overview
   4. Organizational patterns in the Scrum context
   1. From Scrum to Org Patterns: Looking at Patterns from a Scrum Perspective
   2. From Org Patterns to Scrum: Looking at Scrum from a Patterns Perspective
   3. Three groups of patterns
   5. Solving impediments with patterns
   6. Pattern Dependencies
   1. Pattern dependencies
   2. Pattern sequences
   3. Pattern languages
   7. Advanced Topics
   8. Next steps and homework

All attendees will receive a copy of the book Organizational Patterns of Agile Software Development

Pre-requisite: You should have an understanding of Scrum